Thyroid Cancer in Saudi Arabia: A Histopathological and Outcome Study

Abstract

Most data on differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) came from the Western world. We describe its salient characteristics and outcome from a Middle Eastern country. Patients and Methods. We studied all cases of TC seen during a 2-year period (2004-2005) seen at our institution. Results. A total of 600 consecutive cases of DTC with a median age at diagnosis of 39 years (5–85) and the female : male ratio of 459 : 141 (76.5% : 23.5%). The cases included classical papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in 77%, follicular variant PTC in 13.3%, follicular thyroid cancer in 3.2%, and other rare subtypes 6.5%. Total or near-total thyroidectomy was performed in 93%, central and/or lateral neck dissection in 64.5% of cases, and radioactive iodine ablation in 82% of cases. Additional therapies were administered to 154 patients (25.7%). At a median follow-up period of 7.63 years (0.22–13.1), 318 patients (53.3%) were in excellent response, 147 (24.5%) having an indeterminate response, 55 (9.2%) biochemically incomplete, 33 (5.5%) structurally incomplete, and 27 (4.5%) unclassifiable. Twenty cases died secondary to DTC (disease-specific mortality 3.3%). Conclusions. In Saudi Arabia, DTC is common and occurs at young age and predominantly in females. Although remission is common, persistent disease is also common but disease-specific mortality is low.

Prevalence and pattern of thyroid malignancy in thyroid nodule in Aseer Central Hospital in KSA

“…Alzahrani et al studied thyroid cancer in Saudi Arabia at King Faisal hospital which show distribution of sex in thyroid malignancy 76.5% females and 23.5% males. 10 Shrestha et al studied the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in multinodular goiter in Nepal which show in distribution of sex in thyroid malignancy 72% males and 28% females. 9 In our study showing most cases of thyroid malignancy in female patient 82.1% and 17.9% in male patient.…”

Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules with Bethesda III Category: The Experience of a Territorial Healthcare Hospital

“…The swift escalation in the rate of thyroid cancer incidence in Saudi Arabia has been reported over the past many years. The National Cancer Registry revealed data indicative of a notable rise in the occurrence of this disease [8]. Among females, thyroid cancer ranks as the second most frequently occurring cancer and as eighth among males, in Saudi Arabia [8].…”

“…The National Cancer Registry revealed data indicative of a notable rise in the occurrence of this disease [8]. Among females, thyroid cancer ranks as the second most frequently occurring cancer and as eighth among males, in Saudi Arabia [8]. However, in comparison with the developed countries, only very limited research has been done on the malignancy risks in TNs in Saudi Arabia, as appropriate studies in these specific areas are limited.…”

GPCR-mediated PI3K pathway mutations in pediatric and adult thyroid cancer

“…The incidence of thyroid cancer increased over the past 4 decades [1, 2]. Thyroid cancer is the second most common cancer in women next to breast cancer and the fifth most common cancer in all gender in Saudi Arabia [3]. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) accounts for ~90% of all thyroid cancers and is comprised of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) [4].…”